Deputy AG's promotion hits political snags
Shai Nitzan appointment to head of special assignments division delayed; political sources say reason stems from PM's fear of settlers' response
Deputy Attorney General Shai Nitzan's appointment to the position of head of the special assignments division at the Attorney General's Office was removed from the cabinet's agenda at the last moment, for fear it will carry a political toll for the prime minister, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Tuesday.
The cabinet was supposed to vote on the promotion – supported by both Justice Minister Yaakov Ne'eman and Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein – on Sunday.
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In the past, Nitzan acted as the Justice Ministry's coordinator for matters regarding the prevention of incitement and sedition, a role which saw him repeatedly clash with extreme right activists.
Given Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent political clash with the Right over the Ulpana controversy, senior legal sources said Netanyahu preferred to defer the vote, in a effort to avoid further confrontation with the settlers, for whom Nitzan in the proverbial "red flag."
Legal sources further revealed that the attorney general intended to appoint Nitzan, at least initially, in an unofficial capacity, to avoid any delay in the government's approval process.
Legal sources said that Weinstein considers Nitzan a frontrunner for the position of State Prosecutor in two years, after Moshe Lador retires.
Itamar Eichner contributed to this report
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